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Leonardo DiCaprio has become the latest victim of a notorious Ukrainian TV prankster after he was targeted on the red carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday.

Vitalii Sediuk managed to evade security at the Californian event and rushed towards The Wolf of Wall Street star, throwing himself to the ground as he wrapped his arms around the stunned actor's legs and nuzzled his face against his crotch.

A confused DiCaprio, who was at the festival to accept the Cinema Vanguard Award with director pal Martin Scorsese, was photographed smiling as bodyguards attempted to free him from Sediuk's grip.

The serial prankster, who poses as a journalist at red carpet events, pulled a similar stunt on Bradley Cooper as he arrived at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles last month.

He was slapped by Will Smith at the Russian premiere for Men in Black 3 in 2012, as he tried to kiss the Hollywood star, while he gatecrashed soul star Adele's big Grammy Awards moment last year, by running up onstage and grabbing the microphone from presenter Jennifer Lopez. He was arrested and sentenced to three years probation for the stunt.